Stamp, etc.



Dec. 25, 1934. J. B. LAWRENCE STAMP ETC I Filed Feb'. 25, 1934 WML v Patented Dec. 25, 1934 PATENT oFF-ICE A1,985,834 p STAMP, E'rc.

Jay B. Lawrence, Glen Ellyn, Ill., assignor American Decalcomania Co., Chicago, lll., a

corporation of Illinois Application February 23, 1934, Serial No. '112,635

4 Claims. (Cl. ill-67.95)

This invention relates to a stamp or the like and is particularly useful in connection with revenue stamps. A primary object of the invention is to provide a stamp which cannot be re-used and which, when tampered with, discloses marks or words indicating its cancellation or voiding..` A further object is to provide in such stamp means for identification even though the top imprint thereon is destroyed. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred em. bodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- 4 'Figure 1 is a side developed view of the component layers of the stamp embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, a plan developed view of the same.

As shown in the illustration, a paper strip is covered with a water-soluble adhesive or gum. Over the gum is then formed a. layer or coating of water-impervious material, such layer being, however, omitted at points so as to form certain letters or marks indicating cancellation, voiding, etc. In the illustration given in Fig. 2, the waterimpervious layer is omitted at the letters indicated by the numeral 10 so that through the voids of the letters appears the gum layer beneath. It will be noted that the water-impervious layer protects the gum coating therebelow except as to those points forming the letters indicated by 10.

Over the water-impervious or resistant layer is then preferably formed a color pigment coating which entirely obscures the letters 10 and the water-impervious layer. 'Ihe colored layer may be such asto form a suitable background for the stamp imprint. The stamp may becompleted by printing thereon the necessary words, etc. and forming weakened lines along which the stamp may be torn. In order to provide means for identifying the stamp, in the event that the top imprint thereof is multilated, I form, as shown in Fig. 1, animprint in reverse on the bottom of the stamp. That is, the printing, instead of facing outwardly from the paper, faces toward the paper. Any suitable adhesive may be employed for securing the stamp to the barrel or other container to which it is to be applied.

If desired, a water-impervious or resistant ink may be applied over the bottom side of the paper and the reverse imp rint formed thereon. Preferably, the ink omits areas aligned with the omitted areas inthe water-resistantink layer above, which spell out cancelled", voi or the like.

In the use of the stamp asadescribed, after it has been secured by adhesive to a container, efforts to `remove the stamp by applying moisture thereto result in the colored layer being removed 1 at those points directly over the lettered area 10. 5 That is, the moisture penetrating the colored layer dissolves the gum below the letters and causes the immediate colored. layer thereover to fall away. This discloses the voiding marks or words. 'I'he water-impervious coating prevents the water ap- 10 plied to thel outer surface from contacting with the gum and, as a result', the colored layer remains fixed to the water-impervious layer at all places except directly over the letters or marks which are unprotected.

In the event that the top imprint of the stamp becomes obliterated or destroyed by contact with moisture etc., the stamp, and its character can still be ascertained by examining the bottom portion of the paper to which the imprint, in reverse, is applied.

The stamp is simple in form and of inexpensive construction, yet any attempt to remove by means of `moisture promptly destroys the value of the stamp. In spite of the destruction of the outer surface of the stamp, its identity can be ascertained by the simple means described.

It will be understood that the invention is applicable to many kinds of stamps, labels, decalcomania. transfers, etc., and it is my intention to claim all of such uses to which the invention may be put. The foregoingdetailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A stamp or the like comprising: a paper strip, a layer of water-soluble adhesive thereon, a water-impervious layer over all but a few portions of said adhesive, a covering layer concealing said adhesive and water-impervious layer, and an imprint on said covering layer, said adhesive portions not Vcovered by the water-impervious layer indicating, when the adhesive is dissolved and frees the layer portions thereabove from the paper strip, cancellation or voiding of the stamp.

2. -A stamp or the like comprising: a paper strip,

a moisture-soluble adhesive on said strip, a moisture-impervious layer over said adhesive, said last mentionedV layer having segments omitted through which the Ygum isaccessible, an opaque layer Vover said moisture-impervious layer, and an imprint on .said opaque layer, said adhesive 55 portions not covered by said moisture-impervious layer indicating, when the adhesive is dissolved and frees the layer portions thereabove from the paper strip, the cancellation or voiding of the stamp.

3. A stamp or the like comprising: a paper strip, water-soluble adhesive thereon, an imprint on the bottom of said strip in reverse, a protective coat over all but some portions of said adhesive, a concealing layer extending over said protective layer, and an imprint on the top of said last mentioned layer, said adhesive portions not covered by the water-impervious layer indicating, when the adhesve is dissolved and frees the layer portions thereabove `irom the paper strip, cancellation or voiding of the stamp.

4. A stamp or the like comprising: a paper strip, a layer of water soluble adhesive thereon, a water-resistant layer over all but some portions of said adhesive, a covering layer concealing said exposed adhesive and the water-resistant layer, an imprint on the covering layer, and a waterresistant layer over portions of the reverse side of said paper strip the portions omitted in said 10 last-mentioned layer being aligned with the portions of adhesive not covered by said first-mentioned water-resistant layer.

. JAY B. LAWRENCE. 

